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Agony of 46-year-Old Woman Living With Irreparable VVF, RVF

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2 years ago

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Philip Yatai and Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu Zuwaira Iliya, 46, sits quietly on her hospital bed with catheter showing from the side of her wrapper as she slowly narrates her 30 years of struggle living with continuous leakage of urine and faeces.

Iliya, of Makarfi Village in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has been grappling with Obstetric Fistula.

But she has kept hope alive in spite of what appears to be a hopeless situation.

She told a News Agency of Nigeria Correspondent who was at the Vesico Vaginal Fistula Unit of Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria in Kaduna State on a special interview to mark the 2023 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula that she would be healed against all odds.

She told NAN that she had lived with VVF and Rectovaginal Fistula for 30 years as she contracted the condition at the age of 16 after her marriage.

Iliya said that she became pregnant soon after her marriage but experienced prolonged labour during childbirth, adding that she lost the baby and also developed both VVF and RVF in the process.

VVF or Obstetric Fistula, also known as fistula, is a childbirth complication which leads to abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina, causing continuous and unremitting urinary incontinence.

The condition is among the most distressing complications of gynaecological and obstetric procedures which can cause discomfort.

And if left untreated, it may lead to serious bacterial infection, which may result to sepsis, a dangerous condition that can lead to low blood pressure, organ damage or even death.

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Similarly, RVF is a communication between bladder and rectum, where faeces pass before getting to the anus, leading to intermittent leakage of faeces into the vagina.

The development of these conditions, therefore, plunged the young Iliya into a life of agony.

And for the past 30 years, she said she had been struggling with depression, rejection, ridicule and abandonment.

She said: “I was married off at the age 16 and immediately became pregnant. When it was time to deliver the baby, I went into labour for three days.

“I was taken to the hospital for delivery, but had a big cut to enable the baby to come out and that was how I developed VVF and RVF.

“Thereafter, I was taken to a hospital in Kano, where I underwent surgery three times without success. And from there, I was taken to another hospital in Jos, Plateau State, but instead of performing a surgery, the doctor referred me to this VVF Unit in Zaria.

“Here in Zaria, I was operated twice, but still I continue to leak urine and faeces. Notwithstanding, I am still hopeful that maybe, just maybe if I undergo another surgery, I will be healed.”

Describing her life as “a very sad one”, Iliya said her husband divorced her in Kano because of the condition and she returned to her parents house.

She added that while trying to get better when her parents took her to the hospital, her mother and father died, leaving her all alone.

She explained: “My life is a life of agony because I was with my mother here in the hospital when she became ill and died, four days after my second surgery. I went to her burial with this catheter on me.

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“And just when I was waiting for another surgery, I received a message that my father was ill. I left the hospital to look after him and he also died.”

However, in spite of the visibly hopeless situation, relentless Iliya said she would not give up, adding that she hopes to get better and one day give birth to a child.

She said: “I have seen how some VVF survivors were operated on and were healed, went back home, became pregnant and then returned to the hospital and delivered their babies through Caesarean Section.

“This is why I am still hopeful that all is not lost and I have resolved to stay and get well so that maybe God will give me a child.”

On her part, Hajiya Fatima Umar, the Head of the VVF Unit at the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital in Zaria, said there are more than 20 irreparable fistula cases on the hospital list waiting for help.

Umar said some of the women have even made the hospital their homes, while others live in communities but maintain contacts with the facility.

She added: “Actually, the women have not been finding it easy staying in their environment or in their homes.

“Sometimes if they come and they are examined, or if they hear that other doctors are coming from somewhere, they will come.

“If they come, the doctors will examine them.

“Even if the doctors say they can’t operate on them, they will still come after a while because they are already comfortable with the hospital environment.

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“They prefer to be in the hospital than their homes because nobody is rejecting them here.”

Also, Dr. Ado Zakari, the Fistula Surgeon and Consultant, Public Health Physician, said most of the irreparable fistula cases were caused by quacks.

According to him, there is nothing doctors can do if the fistula is too wide and the damage is extensive.

Zakari said: “There are situations where the damage becomes extensive and there is nothing we can do because it is just the question of getting available tissue to repair.

“A situation where the entire tissue has been damaged, there is no way it can be repaired.

“This is because most quacks have no knowledge of anatomy; they operate anyhow.

“They take out everything, even the bladder tissue and when you look at it, there is no way you can repair it.

“You cannot create any tissue anywhere and close the fistula. Fistula is a hole, it is a communication, and if it is so wide, where will you get the tissue to repair it?

“We have such cases; they are irreparable. We cannot repair them.”

Philip Yatai and Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu report.

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Health

Maternal Mortality Has Dropped By 40% Globally —UN

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2 days ago

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April 8, 2025

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Natalia Kanem, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has announced a 40 per cent decline in global maternal mortality since 2000.

According to NAN, Kanem spoke at an event organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to mark this year’s World Health Day.

The 2025 campaign, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, aims to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths while enhancing women’s health.

Kanem noted that no country currently has an “extremely high” maternal mortality rate exceeding 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births.

“Globally, women’s health during pregnancy and childbirth is better than ever before,” she said, attributing the results to medical advancements, reproductive autonomy, and quality maternal care.

She noted that while more births occur in healthcare facilities, care quality varies, with poor standards causing half of maternal deaths.

“Research finds that poor-quality care causes half of maternal deaths and shortages in essential medicines, equipment and skilled personnel plague many health systems,” she added.

“Discrimination further limits access for marginalised groups, even in wealthy nations. We can and must end preventable maternal deaths. We know what works and why.”

She called on stakeholders to provide strong laws, political and financial support for positive impact.

“On this World Health Day, let us prioritise investments so that we can reach zero preventable maternal deaths,” she added.

“Let us commit to building healthier, more just societies and to ensure that all women bringing life into this world can survive childbirth and thrive afterwards.”

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142 LGAs certified open defecation free – Official

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5 days ago

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April 5, 2025

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Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign Conference, said that only 142 Local Government Areas out of the 744 Local Government Areas, (LGAs) in Nigeria have been certified open defecation free by the Federal Government.

The National Coordinator of the conference, Mrs. Chizoma Opara, disclosed this at a one day Sensitisation Programme organised by the conference in Awka on Friday.

The campaign was organised by the National Water Resources Building Network, South East Centre in collaboration with Clean Nigeria, Use The Toilet and Environment Development.

Opara regretted that Nigeria, at the 21st Century, still talked about open defecation and described the act as “high lack of commitment” by the stakeholders who should know better and drive the advocacy down to the grassroots for greater success impact.

“We need to encourage better sanitation in the country as poor water supply and hygiene as well as environmental degradation is a big challenge in Nigeria.

“Three LGAs in Anambra state comprising Anambra East, Aguata and Nnewi North have also been certified open defecation free by the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) and urged more efforts to cover all the states in the South East.

“Genuine commitment by key stakeholders, religious bodies, traditional rulers, women, youth groups and private individuals in combating the menace of open defecation in Nigeria is apt,” she said

She called on Nigerians to develop the spirit of patriotism in the comprehensive war against open defecation in every part of the country with a view to reducing it to barest minimum.

Opara said that the programme were hinged on advocacy on behavioral change, imbibing a whole lot of culture and capacity building among Nigerians for holistic fight of the holocaust in the country by all.

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She said that the organisation would soon come up with a new strategy anchored on five pillars to include funding, creating of an enabling environment, environmental awareness campaign, advocacy and communication among others.

She called on those in the private sector and philanthropists in the state to key in to drive to change the narratives of open defecation in Nigeria as government could not do it alone.

Earlier, Mr Ike- Obi Ejiofor, the Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anambra State Water Resources Management Agency, said that the essence of the event was to interact and to drive the five states in the South- East to clean and hygienic environment.

He described the attendance of the event by the five Commissioners of power and water resources in the South- East as a clear testament that the Coordinator of the programme had a very strong strategy.

Ejiofor noted that in 2019 and 2020, Anambra was declared open defecation free with particular reference to Anambra East, Aguata and Nnewi North respectively by the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH).

Also, the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Ike Chebelu, represented by Prof. Ada Omeyi, said that the theme of the event was in line with the university’s administration.

He described open defecation as unhealthy anywhere in the world, adding that his office was doing everything possible to keep the institution clean and to ensure availability of water in all corners of the University.

The Director-General, National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, represented by Mr.Mike Nwode, stated that the sensitisation campaign was apt and timely considering the efforts the Federal Government made to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDP).

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He said that the goal was to target universal access to safe and affordable water and access to sanitation and hygiene and to end open defecation by 2030 in the country.

According to him, Nigeria is losing about N450 billion to poor sanitation annually.

The Director, National Water Resources Capacity Building Network (NWRCBNet) South East, Prof Emma Ezenwaji, challenged Nigerian youths to come together and form WASH associations at community level to solve holistically the challenges of the programme in the country.

In another lecture on “The Role of Young People in Clean Nigeria Campaign”, the Coordinator, Youth Wash Initiative Africa, Mr. Uchenna Obiakor, urged Nigerian youths and other stakeholders in the sector to see the issues of water, environmental and physical hygiene as a collective responsibility.

Obiakor encouraged the youths to drive meaningful and impactful development programmes in the country especially in the area of service to humanity.

Mr Francis Ekwempu of the Environment Development Initiative for Africa, (EDAI), stated that any money committed in the Clean Nigeria Campaign was not in vain but a commitment to improve healthy living in Nigeria.

Earlier,the Traditional Ruler of Umuawuku Community, Awka South LGA , Dr.Joel Egwuonwu, appealed to governments at all levels and wealthy Nigerians to assist in funding Clean Nigeria: Use The Toilet Campaign to save Nigerians, from contracting dreaded diseases associated with poor sanitation and poor hygienic environment.

In his contribution, Mr Golden Iloh, the Member, representing Ihiala two constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Power and Water Resources, described the event as worth emulating and implementing.

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Iloh said that Anambra State was a model where the leadership of the state wanted to build livable and sustainable mega city, promising that he would initiate a move to make law on the open defecation in the state within three months.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Mr.Julius Chukwuemeka, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Victor Ezekwo, described the Soludo administration in the state as environment friendly.

Chukwurmeka said that the present government was working in all sectors of the state economy simultaneously, referencing the current water supply in Nnewi, Awka and Onitsha as a clear example. (NAN)

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Nigeria Receives over 1m Meningitis Vaccine Doses to Combat Outbreak

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6 days ago

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April 4, 2025

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The ministry of health has received over 1,000,000 pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV).

A statement on Friday said the vaccines were sent from the Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat the meningitis outbreak in northern Nigeria.

The disease has already claimed over 70 lives, with more than 800 cases across 23 states.

Gavi funds the global stockpiles of vaccines against cholera, ebola, meningitis and yellow fever, which are accessible to all countries in the world.

The organisation also supports the cost of procurement, delivery and outbreak response campaigns in lower-income countries, as well as preventive and routine immunisation activities where needed.

Use of the stockpiles for outbreak response is managed by the international coordinating group (ICG) on vaccine provision, and doses are delivered to countries by UNICEF.

The ICG approved the deployment of over 1.5 million doses of Men5CV in response to Nigeria’s request in March 2025.

The first shipment will enable the launch of an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1 to 29.

The campaign will initially launch in Kebbi state and Sokoto state, with plans to expand to Yobe state as additional doses arrive in the country.

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health & social welfare, said the arrival of the Men5CV vaccines is a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s response to the current meningitis outbreak.

He added that it reflects the government’s commitment to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians.

“Through the Nigeria health sector renewal investment initiative and the sector-wide approach, we have prioritised epidemic preparedness and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda. We are grateful for the support of Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF in enabling this swift deployment,” he said.

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“Together, we are not only containing today’s outbreak but also laying the foundation to eliminate meningitis and strengthen routine immunization for the future.”

On his part, Francisco Luquero, Gavi’s head of high-impact outbreaks, said with the organisation’s support, vaccines successfully eliminated meningitis A from Africa’s “meningitis belt”.

“Continued investment in this work is critical to protect the incredible progress made so far, control future outbreaks, and dramatically reduce the devastating impact that seasonal epidemics of meningitis have on families and communities,” he said.

Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria country representative, said every child deserves protection from life-threatening diseases like meningitis.

Munduate added that the arrival of the meningitis vaccine marks a critical step in stopping the current outbreak and safeguarding Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

“UNICEF is proud to support the government by ensuring rapid vaccine deployment, community engagement, and planning and implementation of the response, while working alongside Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Federal Ministry of Health and social welfare to strengthen immunisation efforts in Nigeria,” Munduate said.

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